A familiar face at the Café at the Arena will retire this month after fifty years of service to the university. Chef Howard Clark has worked in almost every area of the university’s Dining Services Department in his time at UT.
Working at UT was Clark’s first job and he started when he was a teenager. “I wanted to buy a car, so I looked for a summer job,” he said. He got the car and much more. “UT is a part of my life. I met my wife here. Two of my children graduated from here. Everything comes from here. It’s a big family, and it’s always been great,” he said.
After his retirement, he hopes to have more time for his wife and four grown children, his church, and his hobbies.
A surprise retirement reception will be held Friday, February 22, in the café at Thompson-Boling Arena from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. All are invited to attend and celebrate with Clark.
A keepsake book is being prepared for Clark as a retirement gift. Employees who would like to participate are asked to send their name and a picture along with a personal note and recipes to be included in the book. Please e-mail this information to Rachel Johnson at Rachel.suzanne.johnson@gmail.com by Tuesday, February 19, at 5:00 p.m.
Don’t forget…it’s a surprise!